Dunfermline v Hearts: Preview

The cash-strapped Fife club have battled to beat the drop to the First Division for the last two Bank of Scotland Premier League seasons.

Leishman has overhauled his squad for the new campaign with players such as Simon Donnelly, Derek Young and Noel Hunt departing to be replaced by Ivory Coast defender Souleymane Bamba, Dundee United striker Jim McIntyre and Irish winger Owen Morrison.

However, despite the changes in personnel, the Fifers are still being tipped to struggle this term for a third consecutive year.

But the East End Park legend is hoping for a backlash from his players as they head into the opening-day visit of Hearts.

Leishman said: ``I don't think it's strange that we have been tipped to go down by some.

``We have finished 11th in the last two seasons, the statistics don't lie and we have to improve on that.

``We have spoken to the players about our expectations, but it is about how they feel about it as well. It would certainly motivate me if I was being written off.

``We have prepared as well as we can for the season. The problem we had was injuries early on in pre-season training, but those players are starting to come back now.''

Hearts have completed the signing of striker Mauricio Pinilla from Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old impressed Tynecastle head coach Valdas Ivanauskas during a trial period at the club this summer.

But Pinilla will not feature at Dunfermline due to a lack of match fitness.

Ivanauskas is also confident of landing Greek defender Hristos Karipidis with talks between the Edinburgh club and PAOK Salonika continuing.

But, after becoming the Jambos' first signing of the summer, Pinilla is confident he can help the club to further success this season after watching the Champions League qualifying win over Siroki Brijeg at Murrayfield in midweek.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said: ``I know Scottish football is very strong and very competitive.

``But I don't think I will have a problem trying to adapt to it from what I saw of the last game at Murrayfield against Siroki Brijeg.

````Although it was not against a Scottish team, I could see the style of the team and I think I can adapt to that.

``The main thing is to try and get through all the stages in the European competition and I hope I can contribute to that.''

Pinilla spent last season on loan at Spanish side Racing Santander and has also enjoyed stints with Italian side Chievo and Celta Vigo in Spain.

Head coach Ivanauskas was delighted to unveil Pinilla and hopes the new arrival shows the determination needed to push himself into the first-team reckoning.

He said: ``We have to get him integrated in the team and he has a good chance to play, but has to work hard for his place in the team.

``He has quality, but he must try in training and in games.

``We have a lot of strikers and we have quality strikers, but the season is very long and we need options.

``We had five strikers last season, but, during the winter, we had just two fit in Calum Elliot and Michal Pospisil.

``Mauricio has a chance to play, but we have good quality players and he must work hard for his place in the team.''